Steve's Genealogy Blog

After finding Damian Niedzialkowski’s Naturalization Records, I discovered that, during the Naturalization Process, Damian changed his name to Damian Cosky.

This surname change was not unusual. My Chmielewski relatives changed their surname to Meleski, and my Dziura relatives changed their surname to Dziurzynski. Other Niedzialkowski relatives changed their surnames to Niedzialkoski, Niedzial, and Newman. I’ve also learned that other Niedzialkowskis changed their surname to Sunday (a translation of the name).

The surname change from Niedzialkowski to Cosky revealed why Damian seemed to disappear from the Worcester, Massachusetts records after his naturalization, leading me to speculate that he and his family moved away from Worcester. Knowing that he changed his name, I’ve been able to determine that he and his wife remained in Worcester, appearing with the surname Coski in City Directories and other records.

The Social Security Death Index includes the following entries for Damian and his wife Caroline:

Name:  Damian Cosky
Birth Date: 15 May 1895
Death Date: May 1967
Social Security Number:  017-09-0781
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued:  Massachusetts
Death Residence ZIP Code: 01606

Name:  Caroline Cosky
Birth Date: 16 Dec 1897
Death Date: Dec 1981
Social Security Number:  030-12-8047
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued:  Massachusetts
Death Residence ZIP Code: 01606

Further, the Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003 includes the following entry:

Name:  Caroline A Cosky
Certificate:  055881
Death Place:  Worcester
Death Date:  22 Dec 1981
Birth Date:  16 Dec 1897

Information from Damian’s naturalization records provides clues for additional research, including clues to immigration records, Polish church records, Massachusetts vital records, Massachusetts land records, and Massachusetts court records. I still don’t know if or how Damian Niedzialkowski is related to me, but this additional information gives me hope that I’ll be able to discover the answer to these questions.

Written for the Carnival of Eastern European Genealogy.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

In 1938, Damian Niedzialkowski completed the requirements to become a citizen of the United States.

The Petition for Naturalization of Damian Niedzialkowski – 1938 (obverse)

The Petition for Naturalization of Damian Niedzialkowski – 1938 (reverse)

SOURCE:  Worcester County, Massachusetts, Naturalizations, v. 102 (1937-1938): Petition for Naturalization of Damian Niedzialkowsky, 1938, Filed under Petition for Naturalization No. 27505; Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester .  FHL microfilm 2,131,567. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the images above to enlarge them. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Petition for Naturalization of Damian Niedzialkowski – 1938. The petition states that:

• Damian Niedzialkowski completed Petition for Naturalization No. 27505 in 1938;
• His name is spelled Damian Niedzialkowsky on the document;
• He filed his petition in the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester, Mass;
• His residence was 19 Endicott St., Worcester, Mass.;
• His occupation was trimmer;
• He was born in Pomocki, Lomza, Poland on 15 May 1895 and his race was Polish;
• He filed his intention to become a citizen on 22 Apr 1935 in the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester, Mass.;
• His wife was Caroline Gucwa, whom he married on 25 Nov 1926 at Worcester, Mass.;
• She was born in ?obowa, Krakow, Poland on 16 Dec 1898 and entered the United States at New York, N.Y. on 30 Dec 1910;
• The couple had one child named Teresa who was born 26 Dec 1927 in Worcester;
• All three were residing in Worcester, Massachusetts;
• His last foreign residence was Czapelowo, Lomza, Poland;
• He emigrated from the Free City of Danzig and arrived in New York, N.Y. under the name Dom. Niedzialkowski on 23 May 1920 on the SS Princess Matoika;
• He resided in Worcester continuously since 23 May 1920;
• He had not previously filed a Petition for Naturalization;
• He requested that his name be changed to Damian Cosky;
• His application was signed by two witnesses: Milton Barnes Freeman, 14 Greendale Ave., Worcester, Mass. (retired) and Whitner Roland Parker, 3 Glenwood St., Holden, Mass. (trimmer) who stated that they knew Damian since 1925 and that he had continuously resided in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts since 1925; the witnesses signed the petition in January 1938;
• Damian’s Certificate of Arrival was No. 1 150638 and his Declaration of Intention was No. 44271;
• The petition was signed by Damian Niedzialkowsky and Carl Greenslit, Deputy Clerk, for William D. Bowen, Clerk;
• He renounced allegiance to the Republic of Poland on 30 Dec 1938;
• His petition was granted on Line No. 9 of List No. 399 and Certificate of Citizenship No. 4539624 was issued.

Some of the information on the Petition for Naturalization is different than the information on the Declaration of Intention. Damian’s wife’s name was Caroline Gwega and her place of birth was Borowa, Swenciany, Poland on the declaration but her name was Caroline Gucwa and her place of birth was ?obowa, Krakow, Poland on the petition.

Of greatest interest is the fact that Damian Niedzialkowski legally changed his name to Damian Cosky as part of the naturalization process. The change of name explains why he seemed to suddenly disappear from Worcester, Massachusetts without a trace. In fact, he was still in Worcester, living under a new name.

Written for the Carnival of Eastern European Genealogy.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko